Edinburgh Council rolls out trade waste recycling service

Businesses in the west of Edinburgh can now get their waste recycled at a competitive price from their local council.

The City of Edinburgh Council's trade waste team has launched a new service to recycle paper and packaging, along with confidential waste disposal. Businesses will be able to choose from a range of options, aimed to be cost-effective and simple.

The council set up the service in response to a survey that revealed that 62% of its trade waste customers did not recycle their waste, but would if a convenient service was made available to them. Businesses can also opt for a self-service option and take their trade waste to one of the council's community recycling centres.

The council's environment leader, Cllr Robert Aldridge, said: "The introduction of this service will make it easier for businesses to recycle their trade waste.

"There are still a considerable number of traders who do not recycle their waste, but with tougher government rules in the pipeline, this is something that all businesses will have to look at in the future."

The Scottish Government's Zero Waste Strategy includes plans to require businesses to make arrangements for waste to be recycled as well as banning many materials from being sent to landfill.